I’ve always heard the difference between mercy and grace explained this way. Mercy is not getting what you deserve, while grace is getting what you don’t deserve. I also think that these two words can be used interchangeably. I’m thankful for both.

Every single day, I experience both grace and mercy. I end up not getting what I deserve and getting what I don’t deserve. I see a lot of people who throw around terms like karma on social media. In every case, that karma is usually for someone else.

But I’ve been around long enough to know that I don’t want what’s coming to me. I don’t want to get what I’ve earned and what I deserve. I can’t very well wish for karma for someone else and grace for me. That’s not how it works.

I know what grace and mercy look like. I know what grace and mercy feel like. I know they’re both part of the package deal that comes with salvation. That’s why I want mercy and grace for everyone I meet. Not because they deserve it. The very nature of grace and mercy is that they’re undeserved and not based on merit. In fact, a good definition for grace is unmerited favor.

Grace and mercy are two of my favorite words because I’m a living example of both lived out every day of my life. That amazing grace that brought me here thus far will lead me home one day and will be with me every step of the journey until then.